That is how Gov. John Hickenlooper has described the state's personnel system, which has rigid rules about how people are to be hired for state jobs.

And he's right.

That's one of the reasons we think voters ought to approve Amendment S, a relatively non-controversial state charter change that would allow more flexibility in personnel rules.

Hickenlooper is among three governors — the others being former Govs. Bill Ritter, a Democrat, and Bill Owens, a Republican — who support the changes.

Amendment S would modify the state charter, which is where the personnel rules are ensconced. The state's personnel system has not been updated in more than four decades.

The amendment would allow up to six finalists for a job, for instance, instead of the three allowed now. It would give temporary workers the ability to be on the payroll as long as nine months, instead of just six months. It will give military veterans expanded preference in the hiring process so those who have served the nation will have a better chance of landing a state job.

It would also allow governors to fill up to 325 jobs with what are called political appointees.

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That means governors could go outside the confines of the civil service hiring process to appoint people to certain positions including deputy directors, legislative liaisons, chief financial officers, personnel directors, executive assistants and public information officers.

It makes sense to allow governors some leeway to hire people who are committed to carrying out an elected official's agenda and we don't think 325 positions, which comprise about 1 percent of the state workforce, is too many.

It's also important to keep in mind that Amendment S will not increase taxes in any way, or increase the cost of running government.

The measure has the support of the state legislature, which voted unanimously to refer it to voters, and state employees.

We hope voters will see the value in streamlining and modernizing the state's personnel system to enable Colorado to hire the best employees possible.

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